Medical Cannabis Could be The Solution to Your Painful Migraine
Migraines are recurring, severely painful headaches. They can last for hours or sometimes even days. The American Migraine Association believes that 12 % percent of the population or 36 million Americans are affected by migraines. But these daunting figures are just the scrapings of the wall. There isn’t a viable cure for migraines, but there are certain medications that can help you manage it.
Migraine is a neurological condition that can cause multiple symptoms like nausea, numbness, vomiting, and even difficulty in speaking. These are not just any annoying headaches, migraines can be excruciatingly painful. Even the most mundane activities, like being around light or noise, can amplify it. So, what are you doing to manage them?
Pain medications can temporarily alleviate the symptoms of migraines but often come with several serious side effects. That is where medical cannabis enters the fray. Medical marijuana has proven to provide relief to people with chronic migraines without causing any severe side effects. As of now, medical cannabis is legalized in 33 states in the country. Although illegal federally, many states have realized its medicinal proficiency and have provided it a legal status under certain conditions. So, if you are living in any of these 33 states, you can access medical cannabis legally without any hassles.
What Study Says
The use of cannabis to alleviate headaches and migraines has become quite common, yet research on its effectiveness has been quite sparse. Recently, there was a study that determined the application of medical cannabis on migraine patients. The results were extremely positive for patients looking for medical marijuana to manage their migraines.
The researchers at Washington State University conducted a study on 1959 anonymous adults over a period of 16 months. It indicated that after consuming medical cannabis, patients found relief in headache severity during migraine episodes. This is quite significant because, during migraines, the pain can be nearly impossible to handle. The study indicates that medical cannabis could help you to take the edge off even in the toughest of circumstances.
Interestingly, the results showed that the effectiveness wasn’t dependent on the type of strain, the ratio of THC: CBD, or even the dosage. This means that medical cannabis helps provide relief from migraines regardless of the dose, type, or content of THC. Consequently, there are other factors that play a vital role in making cannabis an effective medication for migraines.
Procedure
Conducting a study on cannabis is really difficult in the United States because of the plant being federally illegal. So, the study was based on the data collected from an app called “Strainprint.” The app provides patients with a means to track changes in their symptoms, considering changes in their dosage and strains. The patients open the app prior to using cannabis to manage their condition. They select the symptoms for which they were looking to find relief and then select the strain they are planning to consume. Individuals were also prompted to enter the content of THC and CBD in their strain. The data was collected from the anonymous cannabis users of the app to track the effectiveness of medical marijuana in the treatment of migraines and headaches.
Takeaways From the Study
● Marijuana concentrates were more effective than the flower in reducing the headaches.
● The risk of overdose in the case of medical marijuana for migraines was not detected.
● Individuals with migraine found relief from pain to nearly half with the use of medical cannabis.
● Men showed more improvement with the use of medical cannabis than women.
Final Words
The study reinforces the fact that medical marijuana helps people suffering from migraines and headaches. Although it could be said that there is a need to conduct more research on the applications of medical cannabis, there is conclusive evidence that it is useful in the treatment of migraines and its symptoms.
With 33 states in the country offering legal, medical cannabis, you can get MMJ treatment of your migraine without any hassle. Most of the states require you to get a recommendation from a licensed medical health professional stating that you qualify for the state medical marijuana program.
Earlier, people used to remain distant to the idea of getting a recommendation because of the process being too complicated. But that changed when telemedicine entered the fray. It changed the whole dynamics of getting a recommendation. Through telemedicine, you can get yourself a medical consultation online without even stepping outside your house. For instance, if you are living in California, you need not go searching for an MMJ clinic on the streets. You can go online and get evaluated via video call within minutes. The medical marijuana card California is also delivered to you through email.